This announcement marks the first time that the Government has supported one national safety programme in primary schools. In 2009, the Department for Children, Schools and Families in partnership with the Home Office funded the Kids Taskforce personal safety soap opera for all secondary schools in England and Wales. More than 3,000 teachers, police officers, fire fighters and football in the community coaches across the country were trained in use of the materials.
The Government supported the launch of the Kids Taskforce campaign to reach every child with personal safety messages in 2007 and Vernon Coaker, who was Police Minister in the Home Office at the time, gave it his personal backing.
Schools Minister, Vernon Coaker, said: "The vast majority of young people are hard-working, law-abiding citizens who want to put an end to youth violence. The Count Me In campaign, supported by Kids Taskforce, proved this with over 30,000 young people stand up and be counted in the fight against knife crime. But I know that getting young people behind the campaign was only part of the solution to preventing families suffering as a result of youth violence.
"Educating children from an earlier age about the importance of staying safe will mean we give them the advice and information they need to form their own opinions on the issue, rather than being swayed by peer pressure. This approach enables us to help steer young people on a path to success and to prevent falling into a downward spiral of anti-social behaviour, crime and violence.
"The missdorothy.com materials will help teachers start open discussions about the staying safe in PSHE lessons in primary schools, will help them give children the advice and support they need in this sensitive area. The additional investment from Government will mean 160,000 more children will benefit from this invaluable resource."
The programme was originally developed with and funded by the police and fire service in South Yorkshire and some London boroughs. The Metropolitan Police has been instrumental in supporting the national roll-out of the programme. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has personally endorsed the campaign.
"I support the Kids Taskforce because it goes to the heart of my mission, which is keeping people safe. If we don't keep children safe then my message fails," he said.
Kids Taskforce President Sharon Doughty welcomed this new funding to create a national standard of safety information in England's schools.
"This gives every child the right to the best information, with the support of the emergency services, on how to stay safe and how to ask for help. We are particularly proud that the campaign will give Families United – the organisation set up by the parents of murdered children – a sustainable way of sharing their personal stories with young people in school," she said.
After the Easter holidays, the programme will be rolled out in areas of the country where children are most at risk from knife and gang crime. Head teachers and parents who are interested in knowing more about the campaign are invited to contact the Kids Taskforce at office@kidstaskforce.com or visit the website at www.kidstaskforce.com.
